(19)
(11) EP 1 150 008 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
16.07.2003 Bulletin 2003/29

(43) Date of publication A2:
31.10.2001 Bulletin 2001/44

(21) Application number: 01110390.0

(22) Date of filing: 26.04.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: F02N 11/08, F02D 41/22
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 28.04.2000 JP 2000129255

(71) Applicant: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Aichi-ken 471-8571 (JP)

(72) Inventor:
  • Ito, Tokiji
    Toyota-shi, Aichi-ken 471-8571 (JP)

(74) Representative: Leson, Thomas Johannes Alois, Dipl.-Ing. 
Tiedtke-Bühling-Kinne & Partner GbR, TBK-Patent, Bavariaring 4
80336 München
80336 München (DE)

   


(54) Apparatus and method for monitoring start of engine


(57) An engine (10) performs automatic intermittent operation with an ignition switch (53) on. If the speed of the engine (10) reaches a predetermined level when the ignition switch (53) is on, a start flag (X), which indicates that the engine (10) has started, is set to on. The start flag (X) is maintained on even if the engine (10) is stopped due to automatic intermittent operation until the ignition switch (53) is turned off. That is, the engine (10) is assumed to be running even if the engine (10) is stopped due to automatic intermittent operation. Therefore, various control procedures are not suspended due to automatic intermittent operation of the engine (10).






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